Scammers Prey on Pet Owners with Missing Animals
Scammers are exploiting vulnerable pet owners by demanding ransoms on lost pet forums. A BBC investigation in the North West uncovered numerous owners receiving threats related to their missing pets.
In one case, a Greater Manchester woman was asked for £2,000 for her Yorkshire terrier, with threats made against contacting the police.
Over 200 UK victims have reported similar scams to Cumbria detectives. Owners like Linda Tonge, who searched frantically for her Yorkshire terrier Lulu, and Emma Taylor, whose cat Ziggy went missing, received aggressive calls demanding large sums of money for their pets' return.
Despite the distress, Lulu was found unharmed, but Ziggy remains lost.
Operation Facade, led by Cumbria Police, resulted in the sentencing of Brandon Woolveridge to 44 months in jail for blackmail and theft. The heartless nature of these scams has devastated many pet owners, with some, like Holly from Huddersfield, losing both money and their pets tragically.
Det Insp Amanda Sykes urges owners to be cautious during such calls. Meet callers in public if necessary, bring someone along, and never pay a reward without confirming your pet's safety first.
Over 200 UK victims have reported similar scams to Cumbria detectives. Owners like Linda Tonge, who searched frantically for her Yorkshire terrier Lulu, and Emma Taylor, whose cat Ziggy went missing, received aggressive calls demanding large sums of money for their pets' return.
Despite the distress, Lulu was found unharmed, but Ziggy remains lost.
Operation Facade, led by Cumbria Police, resulted in the sentencing of Brandon Woolveridge to 44 months in jail for blackmail and theft. The heartless nature of these scams has devastated many pet owners, with some, like Holly from Huddersfield, losing both money and their pets tragically.
Det Insp Amanda Sykes urges owners to be cautious during such calls. Meet callers in public if necessary, bring someone along, and never pay a reward without confirming your pet's safety first.
